2025 Infant & Toddler Institute

We are pleased to offer this training to you at no cost, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful host site, North End Montessori School!

Join Child Care Aware of New Hampshire (CCAoNH), a program of Community Action Partnership Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties (CAPHR) for the:

Description:

“When I was very young, most of my childhood heroes wore capes, flew through the air, or picked up buildings with one arm. They were spectacular and got a lot of attention. But as I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me.” -Fred Rogers

As we devote ourselves to nurturing the development of infants and young children, we know that relationships are at the heart of our work. Indeed, they are the essential “active ingredient” of human development. On March 29th, we will come together as a community of relational practice to reflect on the power of relationships in early care and to dive into the basic building blocks of these relationships — the seemingly ordinary, day-to-day interactions between infants, toddlers, and the adults who teach and care for them. We will be joined by two facilitators — Emily Meland and Megan Shahnooshi from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education — who will introduce us to (SI), a practice-based, strengths-focused, and community-driven approach to supporting those who serve children, youth, and families. Using the SI tool, we will build a common, accessible language and lens to identify, describe, and support developmental interactions between grown-ups and the children in their care. And, together, we will start to imagine how we might encourage, enrich, and empower the human relationships in our settings through our individual and collective practice.

Core Knowledge Area: Promoting Child Growth & Development

DATE: Saturday, March 29, 2025

TIME: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

TRAINING SCHEDULE:

• 8:30-9:00 AM Registration, Continental breakfast, networking
• 9:00-10:30 AM-Where science meets practice: Relationships as the “active ingredient” of human development
• 10:30-11:00 AM Break
• 11:00-12:30 PM -Noticing and appreciating everyday interactions with the Simple Interactions tool

LOCATION:

• North End Montessori School
• 698 Beech Street
• Manchester, NH 03104

PARKING:

Primary parking is available behind the school, accessible via Prospect Street. Overflow parking is located across Beech Street at Temple Adath Yeshurun. You may also park on the side of the street where space is available.

FUEL FOR THE DAY

• Continental breakfast will be available during registration
• Snacks will be available throughout the day
• Water will also be made available. Participants may also bring a refillable water bottle.
• We will not be serving Lunch.

IN OTHER NEWS

• This training will award participants up to three (3) hours of professional development.
• This training will count toward professional development hours for the Infant & Toddler Endorsement.
• Training Hours count towards the annual required training hours.

If you have questions about this event, please contact Child Care Aware of New Hampshire at our Training and TA Line (603) 578-1386, ext. 2532. or email at [email protected].

Trainer: Emily Meland, Ed.M.

About the Trainer:

Emily Meland, Ed.M. is an Adjunct Lecturer and doctoral candidate in Human Development, Learning, and Teaching at Harvard University. Her research aims to bridge silos between social emotional learning (SEL) and culturally sustaining, asset-based pedagogies, with a specific focus on supporting the adults who work with children and youth. At the heart of her work with educators (and those who support them!) are the simple, everyday interactions that foster the healthy development of children, youth, and adults. Before beginning her doctorate, Emily was a second grade teacher in Lawrence, MA, and it is her former students, families, and colleagues who inform and inspire her work every day. Emily received her Master’s in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and an A.B. in Social Anthropology from Harvard College. Most importantly, she is Mom to two little ones, Theo and Henry, who are her greatest teachers.

Trainer: Megan Shahnooshi, M.A., ED.M.

About the Trainer:

Trainer: Megan Shahnooshi, M.A., Ed.M., is an early educator and researcher with over a decade of experience working with infants and toddlers. Her work spans classroom teaching, caregiving, curriculum writing, and professional development, all grounded in her deep appreciation for the competencies of very young children and the rich reciprocal relationships between child and caregiver. Currently pursuing doctoral studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Megan is advancing her understanding of early development and supporting the professional growth of early educators. Her interests revolve around relational quality between caregivers and young children in childcare settings. Megan also holds an M.A. from the University of Colorado where she completed the Boulder Journey School Teacher Education Program and an Ed.M. in Human Development and Education from HGSE. In her free time, Megan can be found at local farmer's markets, thrift stores, rock climbing, jogging around town, and taking her auntie duties very seriously.

Thank you for joining us!
We hope you enjoy this experience. To continue the conversation, join us at the Infant & Toddler Virtual Learning Communities, where we explore topics like child development, creating nurturing environments, and strategies tailored to the unique needs of infants and toddlers. We’d love to hear your insights and ideas!

Host or Publisher Southern NH Services, Child Care Aware of NH